Beneath Hill 60 (2011)

That was an excellent one.

Thanks for the memories!

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

First of all, I'd like to address the large number of reviews that mention Americans haven't seen/wouldn't't be interested in this film. There seems to be an assumption that Americans aren't interested in war films that don't feature Americans. Not sure where this is coming from, but I've never found that to be the case. Americans who like war movies, like war movies. Almost everyone I know has seen 'Gallipoli', 'The Odd Angry Shot', 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence', 'Mad Max' (OK, not a real 'war' movie, but just sayin'), in addition to many of the great British and German-made films. The issue isn't with interest, it's with distribution. If studios and theater owners don't think they'll make a zillion dollars by showing a movie, we don't get to see it unless it turns up on cable or Netflix. OK, I'll step off my tree-stump now and review this fine movie.WW1 certainly does not get the film-making attention it should, so to find one that's this excellent makes up for this a little bit. I was drawn in and kept there by the fine acting, attention to detail, and fluidity of story telling. In any war flick, I'm always waiting for that cheesy moment that breaks the rhythm and steals the credibility of the scene. Usually a 'why we fight' type of speech that you know never would have happened; soldiers fight to keep themselves and their buddies alive, and don't need any other reason. That type of dialog is obvious, useless, and clearly just there for the audience, and not for the benefit of the characters or story. None of that puffiness or foolishness here. Also, it wasn't one of those war films that was made just so someone could put it one their resume', or show off their special-effects prowess. It is first and foremost a great story about real characters and events. I got the feeling that everyone involved in making this film truly cared for what these men went through and brought their best effort as a way to honor that. As much as I like movies about the well-know people, places and events that took place in war, movies that give this much attention to the lesser-known stories can be a much more fulfilling experience. If done right, these types of movies can make the events much more personal and bring you uncomfortably close to the realities of war, which is what war movies should be doing. 'Beneath Hill 60' does this in spades, and this American appreciated every minute of it.

I have been researching my grandfather, Lieutenant Leonard Langdale Wrathall. He was awarded a Military Cross for removing an enemy road mine from a spot which was under heavy direct machine-gun fire. On the 3rd of October, 1918 in the vicinity of Estees and Ramicourt, he was engaged in the reconnaissance of roads captured during the advance. He examined roads up to our front line, and in many cases beyond it, and during the whole of both days worked under heavy shell and machine gun fire. Leonard enlisted in the the Australian forces in OCt 1915 as a geologist; his roll title was No 1 Mining Corps -2 and 3 Reinforcements. He spent 4 years in the army gaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Australian Tunnelling Corps and being concerned in the operations which led to the blowing up of Hill 60. I shall look forward to watching the movie and to see the experiences that they endured.

This is a movie that every Australian must watch. It's a story about the unforgotten heroes, who went and did their bit for the Great War. Amazingly it's based on a true story of miners who, went to the Western Front and dug a network of tunnels deep beneath the Germans. Implanted within the labyrinth of tunnels, is millions of explosives waiting to be set off.What makes this film is the human side of emotion. There is mate ship and bonds which can never be set aside; experiences that only the men can relate to. There is the love story between Oliver Woodward (Brendan Cowell) and young Marjorie Waddell (Bella Heathcote). And you see the youthful innocence of young men, in particular Frank Tiffin, played by Harrison Gilbertson and Walter Sneddon (Alex Thompson).The contrast between the Queensland and the war is reflected in the use of colour and lighting. Queensland is bathed in sunlight, warm clean colours and in the costumes. While the Western Front is portrayed in constant bleak colours where bright colours don't exist. It's cold, wet and rain(for some reason, it's not a war movie until is has the element of rain and coldness).The English accent of the British troops are not great, they sound more like upper crust Australians. But apart from that comment, this is a gem of a movie. It will have you hooked until the very last second.

Films about the 'Great War' are few and far between so when one comes along I try my best to see it. This is offering is certainly one of the better in recent times.Although set in the Western Front of Flanders, it follows the fortunes of an Australian unit who are mining under the German lines. The few films of the 'Great War' to feature Australians normally show the Middle Eastern or Turkish theatres but Beneath Hill 60 has them ankle deep in mud and rain.As someone that has an interest in the Western Front, I was impressed the way the front-line was re-created. It was as authentic looking as one could expect considering most of the action took place in the mine shafts beneath the trench systems. Indeed, the dank claustrophobic shafts are captured superbly. As is the constant water and poor lighting. Almost a different world of mute silence which contrasts with the near anarchy of the surface...An Australian reviewer has commented earlier on here about the British and Americans not watching this film. The Americans because they're not featured and the British because they're lampooned. As a Brit I don't feel that there was ANY lampooning by the script - if it WAS intended then it failed. The script itself is well presented and the cast all give very watchable performances.As is the case in these kind of films, there are moments when the tissues have to come out. beneath Hill 60 is no exception. Im pleased that it doesn't dwell too long during the more moving sequences - nor does it use them to win over the audience. Apart from the obvious scenes, there is one part of the film which I found personally moving. in one of the last shots of the film a photograph is taken - one of the Australians is being portrayed as suffering from 'shell-shock' or what we now call PTSD. This is something I recall from own grandfather suffering from before he died when i was a child. Constant shaking and jerking - unable to ever work properly or drive. One of a whole generation of men whose lives were taken away - one way or another.Beneath Hill 60 is not perfect but it IS is a very worthy tribute to those men who lost their lives - on both sides.8/10